History of Waterville, (Kennebec County) Maine United States of America

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Local History Notes:

WATERVILLE, a flourishing post-village of Kennebec co., Maine, on the right bank of the Kennebec river, at the Ticonic falls. (18 feet in height,) and at the northern terminus of the Androscoggin and Kennebec railroad, 82 miles N. N. E. from Portland. The Kennebec and Penobscot railroad, now in course of construction, will connect it with Bangor, and it is also to be the terminus of the Kennebec and Portland railroad. The water-power afforded by the Ticonic falls and others in the vicinity is very great, and might easily be made available to almost any extent; only a small part of it is at present employed. There are here in operation numerous mills for grinding grain and plaster, sawing lumber, carding, &c. There are also various manufactories, principally of machinery, castings, and farming implements. An important trade is carried on with the surrounding country and through the Kennebec river, which, by means of a dam and locks at Augusta, is navigable to the foot of the falls opposite. The village contains 4 or 5 churches, 2 banks, 2 newspaper offices, and about 30 stores. It is the seat of Waterville college, a flourishing institution, under the direction of the Baptists. Population of the township in 1840, 2971; in 1850, 3965.

Biographies:

Samuel Stillman Conant, journalist, was born in Waterville, Maine, Dec. 11, 1831; son of the Rev. Thomas Jefferson and Hannah O'Brien (Chaplin) Conant. He studied at Madison university and in Berlin, Heidelberg and Munich; and on his return from Europe in 1860 adopted the profession of journalism. He was for seven years managing editor of the New York Times, resigning that position on the death of Henry J. Raymond in 1869, to become managing editor of Harper's Weekly. He continued at the head of that journal until his mysterious disappearance in January, 1885. He was married in 1858 to Helen Charlotte Peters Stevens and had one son, Thomas Peters Conant, who died in 1891, aged thirty years. Samuel Stillman Conant was an extensive contributor to periodical literature and translated Lermontoff's Circassian Boy from the Russian, through the German, in 1875.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Barton Foster, educator, was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 8, 1822; son of John May and Elizabeth (Lowell) Merrill Foster. In 1829 he removed with his parents to Waterville, Maine, where he was graduated from Waterville college in 1843. He was principal of the China, Maine, academy, 1844-45, and of the Lexington, Mass., academy, 1845-46. In 1850 he was graduated from the Newton theological institution, Mass., and was editor of the Zion's Advocate, 1850-58. He was professor of Greek and Latin languages and literature at Waterville college, later Colby university, 1858-72, and of Greek language and literature, 1872-94. On him the college first conferred the honorary title of professor emeritus. He was trustee of Waterville college, 1856-59. He was married to Ann, daughter of Nicholas and Nancy (Estey) Doe of Parsonsfield, Maine; and their son, John M. Foster, became a missionary to China. On Aug. 14, 1866, Professor Foster was married to Elisabeth Boutelle Philbrick. In 1864 he received the degree of A.M. and in 1876 that of LL.D. from Colby university. He died at Waterville, Maine, Aug. 19, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Mathews, author, was born in Waterville, Maine, July 28, 1818; son of Simeon and Clymana (Esty) Mathews, and grandson of Jabez Mathews. He graduated from Waterville college, A.B., 1835; A.M., 1838; studied law with Timothy Boutelle; graduated at Harvard, LL. B., 1839; was admitted to the bar of Kennebec county, Maine, in 1838, and practised in Benton and Waterville, 1841-43. He published The Watervillonian, 1841-42, the title of which was afterward changed to The Yankee Blade. This paper was removed to Gardiner, Maine, in 1843, and in 1847 to Boston, Mass., where it was merged with The Portfolio in 1856. He removed to Chicago, Ill., in 1856, and contributed regularly to the press. He was librarian of the Young Men's association, 1859-62, and was professor of rhetoric and English literature at the University of Chicago, 1862-75, resigning in 1875 to devote himself to literature. In 1880 he removed to Boston. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Colby in 1868. He travelled in Europe, 1871-74. He was married: first, in 1845, to Mary Elizabeth Dingley of Winslow, Maine; secondly, in 1850, to Isabel T. Marshall of China, Maine; and, thirdly, in 1865, to Harriet N. Griggs of Chicago, Ill. He is the author of: Getting On in the World (1873), reprinted in London by three different publishers, and translations were published in Stockholm and Budapest; The Great Conversers, and other Essays (1874); Words, Their Use and Abuse (1876, enlarged ed., 1884); Hours with Men and Books (1877); Monday-Chats, a translation of selections from the Causeries du Lundi of C. A. Sainte-Beuve, with an introductory biographical and critical essay on Sainte-Beuve (1877); Oratory and Orators (1879; reprinted in London); Literary Style, and Other Essays (1881); Men, Places and Things (1887); Wit and Humor, Their Use and Abuse (1887); Nug? Litteraris?, or Brief Essays on Literary, Social and Other Themes (1896); critical introductions to Bulwer's novels for Little, Brown & Co.'s subscription edition (1896), and contributed numerous articles to the North American Review, the Anglo-American and other periodicals. He had in 1901 two works nearly ready for publication.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Tucker Cobb, journalist, was born in Waterville, Me., June 11, 1825; son of the Rev. Sylvanus and Eunice Hale (Waite) Cobb. In 1829 he was taken to Malden, Mass., where he was educated. In 1845 he engaged with his father on the Christian Freeman and Family Visitor, of which he became managing editor. Later, with his brother, Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., he published the Rechabite, a temperance paper. He afterward edited other temperance journals and during the civil war published in conjunction with his brothers, George Winslow and Sylvanus, Jr., the Union League. In 1872 he became literary editor of the Boston Home Journal, published by his son-in-law, Mr. W. Wallace Waugh. He was married Oct. 16, 1847, to Sophronia Rugg, daughter of Capt. William and Lucy Holmes (Cambridge) Tisdale. Her mother was the daughter of Edward Cambridge of Bristol, England, and a grand-niece of Sir Owen Cambridge, lord mayor of London. Mrs. Cobb died at Roxbury district, Boston, Mass., Oct. 31, 1897. Mr. Cobb was a prominent lecturer on temperance and educational subjects. He died in Roxbury district, Boston, Mass., Oct. 21, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor